Marxist Library Group President Ignites Backlash From Members

In the heart of America, the very fabric of our libraries, the quiet institutions we have long seen as guardians of knowledge and free thought, is facing a wave of political contention. Emily Drabinski, the newly elected president of the American Library Association (ALA), finds herself embroiled in the center of the controversy, not for any procedural decisions she made regarding libraries, but for a personal declaration she shared with the world. She self-identifies as a “Marxist lesbian.”

As the nation’s largest nonprofit trade organization for libraries, the ALA has played an influential role in American education and culture. Yet, it now faces a backlash for its president’s candid revelation and the broader concerns surrounding the organization’s political leanings and actions.

It all began with a tweet, a brief burst of social media expression in which Drabinski celebrated her identity. “I just cannot believe that a Marxist lesbian who believes that collective power is possible to build and can be wielded for a better world is the president-elect of @ALALibrary,” she wrote. 

Montana was the first to take action. The Montana State Library Commission voiced their staunch disagreement with Drabinski’s Marxist views and voted to sever their ties with the ALA. “Our oath of office and resulting duty to the Constitution forbids association with an organization led by a Marxist,” declared the commission, echoing the sentiments of many Montana residents who felt that such an ideology clashed with their core values.

This move wasn’t isolated. Other states, including Georgia, Illinois, Arizona and South Carolina, saw mounting calls from Republican lawmakers to reconsider their associations with the ALA, fueled by concerns about Drabinski’s personal Marxist beliefs and the ALA’s broader direction.

Drabinski’s reaction to the fallout was a mix of surprise and regret. In an NBC News interview, she expressed that she hadn’t anticipated her identity would be “used as a bludgeon against library workers across the country.” While her initial sentiment was personal, the ripple effect of her declaration reverberated into the professional realm, affecting librarians and the ALA’s national reputation.

In response to Montana’s decision, the ALA emphasized its commitment to all libraries and library workers. Highlighting their financial support to Montana libraries, they hoped to showcase their dedication to the nation’s libraries. For now, states taking proactive steps to protect American ideals are mounting a serious challenge to the politicization of the ALA.